Media Releases
Media Release - Airport fire service now operational in Karratha - 22/09
Airservices will provide an operational aviation rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) service at Karratha Airport from this week.
Airservices ARFF personnel have been in Karratha for several months preparing for the reintroduction of the service to the airport, now the busiest in regional WA.
ARFF General Manager, Andrew Rushbrook, said that fire fighters would now monitor all regularly scheduled passenger aircraft arrivals and departures seven days a week.
He said the re-introduction of the Karratha airport fire service would provide an added layer of safety to airport users in north-west WA.
“Airservices has made a major commitment to investment in new equipment, training and recruitment to ensure we can deliver outstanding services to this community and others where airports are experiencing significant and sustained growth,” Mr Rushbrook said.
The on duty fire crew will staff a Fire Control Centre and two Rosenbauer Mk8 ultra-large airport fire vehicles. They aim to arrive at any incidents on the airport within two minutes, well within the international standard of three minutes.
Shift staffing and equipment levels will be gradually increased over the coming six months.
Karratha airport fire station will ultimately be equipped with three Mk8 vehicles. The third vehicle has arrived on site and is now undergoing commissioning checks.
It will allow Airservices to move to full ARFF operations at Karratha by the end of the year.
When fully equipped with fire fighting agent, a Mk8 carries around 9,000 litres of water and foam and can empty its tank in less than two minutes.
Its roof-mounted monitor is capable of throwing water and foam a distance of more than 80 metres.
For media enquiries or an image of a Mk8 fire vehicle in action in Karratha please call
Ph: +61 2 6257 2828 or
Email: media@airservicesaustralia.com
Airservices Australia is a Government owned organisation responsible for the safe and efficient management of air traffic across 11 per cent of the world's air space. Services include air traffic control, airspace management, aeronautical information, radar communications, radio navigation aids, aviation maintenance and engineering, environmental management and aviation rescue and firefighting. Airservices website: www.airservicesaustralia.com